How much was the S3 8L (225 spec) by the time it ended it's life?
The Leon Cupra R 225 1.8T which stole it's engine was £18015 at the time they shelved it (dealer RRP), and the Golf R32 was way over £21k as I looked at a second hand one at that price, so the S3 must have been up there in the early to mid twenties. If it was anywhere near 25, then the 8P came out with the 2.0T at £26995 from new (early days pre flat bottom steering wheel & nav).
The reason it looks very expensive now is that FBMFSW (originally a £250 option) / Sat Nav (originally a £1700 option) / and Bluetooth (originally a £200 option) have been added as standard, and with the facelifting and exchange rates it's gone up to £30k.
The 2 wheel drive Leon Cupra R Mk2 265PS is now £26k which is the price the S3 8P started out at, so against it's VAG peers I don't think on reflection it's heanously expensive, I just think £30k is too much money for a shopping trolley with trinkets.
I paid £16100 for my last LCR 225 Mk1 with dealer discount, and there is no way the S3 is twice the car, I just think the exchange rates have knackered any sense of value from cars. A Polo GTi with some options is nigh on £24k, and an A1 can be specced to nearly £30k, so it seems the dealers will just jack up the prices on the low end cars and those who can pay will, and those who won't (who have some sense!) will wait for 2nd hand.